Bandar Tun Razak: The responsibility of safeguarding Malaysia's eye care is a shared endeavour, said Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The wife of the Prime Minister stated that both public and private hospitals play a crucial role as caretakers of eye health, ensuring that quality eye care is accessible to all.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wan Azizah emphasized that this collective effort strengthens the ability to provide world-class ophthalmology services, bridging gaps in accessibility and bringing vision care closer to communities in need. She made these remarks while officiating the Malaysian Ophthalmology Scientific Congress (MOSC) 2025.
Noting Malaysia's significant milestone in ophthalmology practice, Wan Azizah highlighted the National Eye Survey III conducted in 2023, which reported a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of blindness in earmarked regions across the country. The survey recorded a decrease from 1.6 per cent to 0.8 per cent in the eastern regions, and from 2.1 per cent to 0.6 per cent in Sarawak, reflecting progress in enhancing eye care services.
She acknowledged the progress in achievements and advancements in the field, spearheaded by the younger generation, as a testament to the power of innovation, determination, and community-focused care. The former deputy prime minister noted that the National Eye Database (NED), established in 2002, has been instrumental in this journey, empowering ophthalmologists to make evidence-based decisions that continually improve patient outcomes.
Wan Azizah mentioned that the data-driven approach earned Malaysia the honour of hosting the World Health Organisation/International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) meeting on cataract surgery outcomes in 2018, describing it as a proud moment highlighting the country's leadership in global eye care standards.
On the MOSC, she said the three-day congress, themed "United We Stand: One Vision for Malaysia," which began yesterday, brings together a distinguished assembly of professionals from both public and private healthcare sectors to share knowledge and discuss strategies to improve the future of eye care in Malaysia.
At the event, Wan Azizah was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Ophthalmology 2025 Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, having previously served as an ophthalmologist from 1978 to 1993.